Up next in our new Summer in the City Series, we took the opportunity to speak to Toronto native Miss G and ask her what she loves about living in Toronto during the sunny months. As our resident historian and geography lover at Keystone, Miss G is in the know about all the best landmarks, trails and parks to explore in the city – and she’s also a fan of delicious food and coffee, so she has a few great reccos on that front as well! Take a look below…
What is your favourite Toronto summer tourist attraction?
My favourite tourist attraction in the summer but honestly, it’s a great place all year round is Casa Loma. The house itself is what excites me throughout the year as I am a history major and I love to learn about Toronto’s history especially. But in the summer, the gardens surrounding the main house are amazing! Not only is it full of great Instagram photo ops but the view looking south towards the lake lets you see the whole city spread out before you and the CN Tower is very prominent.
What is your favourite outdoor activity to do in Toronto in the summer?
The summer is when I love to get out and walk the trails around Toronto. Every year I set goals for myself to find new trails or extend my current trails to see how far I can walk. Being in nature is one of the best practices I have found for my mindfulness and discovering new parts of Toronto is always fun.
What is your favourite indoor activity to do in Toronto in the summer?
This one is tough as during the summer I try to be outside as much as possible, whether that be walking the trails or sitting in a park reading a book or spending time with friends. However, if the weather is too hot or we have one of our rare summer thunderstorms I will head to Ripley’s Aquarium to immerse myself in the world of aquatic animals. I will put in my headphones and listen to some of my favourite music as I walk slowly through the tanks and watch the different fish swim around their habitats.
What is your favourite restaurant to eat at in Toronto in the summer?
Every August, Toronto hosts the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE), a celebration of the summer that goes back over 100 years. A long standing tradition of the CNE is the food building as well as the multitude of unique recipes that are offered only at the CNE. I love going to the CNE and trying out a few of the recipes and eating foods that I can only get during that time, including deep fried cheese curds, Tiny Tom’s donuts, and as much poutine as possible.
What is your favourite summer sport to watch in Toronto?
THE summer sport in Toronto is without a doubt going to watch a Toronto Blue Jays game. This team is Canada’s only major league baseball team, making it the team to cheer on. Going to the Rogers Centre (formerly and forever the Skydome!) to watch a game under the open sky is amazing but baseball is such a hanging out game that it’s more about who you see the game with than who the Jays are playing.
Do you think Toronto is more of a summer or winter city?
Toronto has so many festivals and concerts going on during the summer, from Pride in June to Beaches Jazz Festival in July to Caribana in August. There are so many things in Toronto happening that make this a perfect summer city. Especially with us being right on the shores of Lake Ontario, there are so many beaches to soak up some sun and the Harbourfront trail goes on for miles.
What is your number one piece of advice for someone visiting Toronto in the summer?
For anyone looking to visit Toronto in the summer, my biggest piece of advice is to take transit only moderately and instead walk the streets of the city. There are so many hidden places to explore and if you only take transit you will miss a lot of those gems.
